Pros

• Driving is exciting at any speed.
• Fastest gas-efficient automobile.
• Manually raising and lowering the soft top is simple.
• Mostly comfortable ride

Cons

• It’s cramped inside.
• Trunk space is limited.
• The top-up automobile is noisy at motorway speeds.

MX-5 driving: how? Mazda’s latest Miata improvement is Kinematic Posture Control. Mazda claims the new torque vectoring system will make the iconic Roadster easier to turn on rocky roads, but we didn’t see it. After a vigorous drive on our test track, we could smell the brakes and feel the system, but it didn’t help.

The Miata is light, quick, accurate, and entertaining to drive even at its limits. Our manual-transmission Miata reached 60 mph in 6.4 seconds at our test track. It’s fast, but the VW Golf GTI (6.1 seconds) and Subaru BRZ (6.2 seconds) are more secure. We braked well enough to stop a 60-mph automobile in 113 feet.

How does the MX-5 Miata feel? A two-seat roadster like the Miata is unusually comfy. The Miata crashes over large road bumps, while smaller ones are difficult to spot. Our employees love the Miata’s seats. They’re comfortable and supportive and have seat heaters for cold days. However, several editors noted the seats had odd padding and support.

The Miata’s wind noise is disappointing. The top-up makes the car unpleasant. Bus conversations sometimes require shouting. Use the Miata’s large room by driving with the top down and windows open. Always problems.

The interior? The sleek cabin maximises space and driving pleasure. The house is small, so most buttons are accessible. The touchscreen settings make up for the entertainment system’s clunky control knob. The cup holders must be more comfortably placed, making liquids hard to reach.

Over-six-footers may feel cramped. Because the passenger footwell is shorter than the driver’s, taller co-pilots can’t fully stretch their legs no matter how far back the seats are. As expected, this interior’s sole issue is space.

A soft-top Miata’s rapid top-down/top-up is excellent. The motorised top is easy to use but doesn’t utilise electricity.

Tech quality? Drivers need safety technologies and contemporary connections in a Miata. Two USB ports and Android Auto/Apple CarPlay are available. If you open the top, the blind-spot warning system will help.

Bose’s nine speakers improve music and eliminate outside noise. The device recognizes speech well despite having only on-screen voice commands. Scrolling works effectively despite the minimal information and structure.

Are you storing things? The Miata’s cargo room isn’t surprising, as a two-seat convertible could be more practical. Long journeys with multiple bags won’t work in the Miata’s 4.6-cubic-foot trunk. Carry-on luggage or tall shopping bags fit. The back seat isn’t a cargo shelf like in larger convertibles. No glovebox either. The Miata’s little bin between the seats stores phones, wallets, and small handbags.

One youngster can use a booster seat or forward-facing seat. No supports or top tether hookups exist.

Gas mileage? The EPA rates the Miata at 29 mpg (26 city, 34 highway). While driving the Miata on city streets and roads for two weeks, we averaged 27 mpg, but we may have sped too much. Miatas had more excellent gas mileage in prior tests.

Buy a Mazda MX-5? Miatas are tough despite their size. Even though our test car is solid, the gear lever rattled within the gate. Modern Mazdas have a luxurious interior with soft plastics and imitation leather. Even with higher trims and accessories, the Miata is a good buy.

Mazda’s bumper-to-bumper guarantee lasts three years and 36,000 miles, and the engine stays five years and 60,000 miles—section average. Roadside assistance lasts three years and 36,000 miles, less than non-luxury convertibles.

Miatas are special. No other rear-wheel-drive roadster delivers this pleasure at this pricing. Unlike more complex autos, it’s fun to drive and follow the laws. Miata fans persist—the correct answer.

Mazda had yet to announce the 2024 MX-5 Miata. We recommend the Club trim based on last year’s Miata if anything changes. Sport-tuned Bilstein suspension and limited-slip differential improve handling and grip. It boasts Bose premium sound and heated seats.

Miata models

Two-seater Mazda MX-5 Miata roadster. Sport, Club, and Grand Touring trims are available. Each features a 181-horsepower, 151-lb-ft 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. Standard six-speed manual gear drives the rear wheels. Grand Touring cars have six-speed automatic transmissions.